Dr. Joe O'Neill -- who has served as director of the White House Office of National AIDS Policy since July 2002 -- has been named to be a deputy coordinator and chief medical officer in the new Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator at the State Department, according to a department release. The new office will oversee U.S. international assistance in the fight against HIV/AIDS and coordinate the activities of the various agencies and departments that will deliver the aid. President Bush in May signed into law a measure (HR 1298) that authorizes $15 billion over five years to fight AIDS in Africa and the Caribbean. The measure includes nearly $10 billion in new funds, according to the release (State Department release, 8/14). Bush on July 2 nominated former pharmaceutical company executive Randall Tobias to head the new office. As coordinator, Tobias would work under the secretary of state, and he would be able to distribute funds directly to nongovernmental organizations and transfer funds between government agencies. The position will carry the rank of ambassador. Tobias' nomination must be approved by the Senate (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 7/29).

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